Ben Whishaw hints at Bond filming date

Directed by Sam Mendes, Skyfall is the 23rd James Bond film. It features Daniel Craig in his third performance as the main character/action hero while Javier Bardem stars as the film's villain, Raoul Silva. The plot line follows as James Bond's loyalty to M is challenged over secrets from her past. When MI6 is attacked, it falls to Bond to seek out and eliminate the threat regardless of the cost to himself.

Ben Whishaw has hinted filming for the 24th James Bond movie will kick off early 2014.

The 32-year-old actor - who plays high-tech boffin Q in the spy franchise - let slip the gang would be reuniting in 10 months' time to shoot the next chapter of secret agent 007's adventures.

Asked if he had been in contact with leading man Daniel Craig since 2012's smash hit 'Skyfall' was released, he told BANG Showbiz: ''No, I haven't spoken to him. We know that we'll probably be back together in about 10 months... or something. Let's hope so!''

Following reports Sam Mendes was ''75 percent sure'' he wanted to helm the next installment, Ben admitted he would love the acclaimed director to return and is hoping his character Q will get a bigger role this time.

Speaking at the the gala screening of 'Cloud Atlas' at the Curzon Mayfair Cinema in London on Monday (18.02.13), he added: ''I hope he does [return]! I really hope so. I would just like Q to just be in it more!''

However, the British star isn't fazed by the film's lack of international success at awards' season - despite picking up Best British Film at the EE British Film Academy Awards and becoming the highest-grossing film of all time in the UK - and admits he didn't expect the blockbuster to earn any major Oscar nominations.

He said: ''What I gather is that films of that kind very rarely get recognised by the Oscars anyway. I wasn't surprised. I mean, it's a shame of course, but it's done fantastic without the Oscars.''

Aside from 'Skyfall', Ben claimed the highlight of his year was working with the Wachowski siblings and Tom Tykwer on their ambitious sci-fi epic 'Cloud Atlas'.

He gushed: ''It was wonderful. I loved working with [directors] Tom, Lana and Andy [Wachowski] and this amazing array of actors on this amazing script. [Author] David Mitchell, it's all from his brain - which is astonishing!''

The film's stars Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, James D'Arcy and Jim Sturgess joined Ben on the red carpet.